I saw Evan’s shoulders slump slightly. He had all but given up. I felt bad, but wasn’t even sure it was a valid assumption on his part.
“We have discussed this fully and, as a whole, the HRC feels that the retail center would detract from the value of Biltmore Village as a historical district in Buncombe County. We are very sorry to Mr. Monroe that we cannot approve his request at this time. We highly suggest an alternative location be found so that the plans can be executed. Does anyone have any questions or concerns for the Commission before we adjourn?”
No one spoke or moved as if they planned to.
“The meeting is adjourned. Thank you.” Tammy and the other members stood and walked out of the room.
Evan appeared to be devastated, but he wasn’t moving. Part of me wanted to go to him and make sure that he was okay, but I decided that it wouldn’t be appropriate. Instead, I stood and walked out of the building, taking a moment outside to receive the congrats from several who had attended in support.
“You did a good job for your cause,” Evan’s voice startled me and I turned to face him. The disappointment in his eyes was being disguised with a smirk. “Wish you’d been on my side.”
“I didn’t do it alone Mr. Monroe,” I acknowledged. “But thank you for the compliment.”
“Please call me Evan,” he smiled. “And you did a lot.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry things didn’t go the way you wanted,” we both knew I was lying. “And I’m Alexis.”
“I appreciate the thought Alexis. You are lying, but I still appreciate it.” He stood silent for a moment. “Maybe we can have coffee sometime?”
His offer took me by surprise. I wasn’t sure what to say. The idea of having coffee with a man so egotistical and cold hearted appalled me. But something deep inside told me that he wasn’t as bad as I had thought him to be. There was a small piece of me that said I should agree.
“That would be nice,” I agreed, hoping that it was just a casual offer that would never materialize.
“I never really wanted you to be an enemy,” for the first time I saw a genuine emotion cross his face. “It just sort of happened.”
“We aren’t enemies Evan,” the thought seemed absurd. “We were on opposite sides of an issue that is no longer an issue.”
“So we can be friends?” he asked, hopeful.
“Sure,” I agreed. “I need to get back to my shop. I hope you have a good day.”
“Thanks,” he seemed sincere. “I’ll text you about coffee.”
“Sounds great,” I replied with a smile as I turned to walk away.
The trip back to the shop seemed to take longer than usual. I was excited to have the issue over with and be able to get back to normal life. But I was still caught up in the fact that Evan Monroe wanted to have coffee.
Something made me want to tell Nick about what had happened, but I opted not to. He wasn’t privy to the real story of my life and I liked that. Too much info and I’d be at a point where we actually knew each other. Then I’d lose the one thing that seemed to keep me somewhat sane.
Fortunately Kendall was more than willing to listen to my chatter about the decision. She didn’t even remind me that maybe it was a good thing to advance our area. Instead she showed her happiness for me that things had worked out the way I wanted them to.
I decided to share with her about the coffee invitation. That was when I saw her argumentative side.
“So you are going right?” she asked, showing that she supported the idea fully.
“I suppose,” I nodded. “If I have to.”
“Why would you not want to?” she asked, seeming horrified by the idea of not being thrilled.
“Because he’s an egotistical asshole that tried to ruin my life!”
“He tried to do his job Lex,” she shook her head. “You always take things so seriously.”
“It IS serious Kendall,” I reminded her. “This is my home.”
“Lexi,” she stopped and looked at me. “Think about it. He’s hot. He’s rich. He’s stable.”
“And we are completely different!”
“Why? Because he likes new shopping centers and you don’t?” I watched as she locked up the shop and went over to the table to sit for a few. “SO what? You can’t get past that?”
“I’m not interested in a relationship Kendall,” I reminded my best friend.
“So then get to know the guy. Be friends. Have a little fun.” Her logic almost made sense. “What’s the big deal?”
“I….I don’t know,” I admitted. “I just….”
“You are stuck on the invisible guy?” she asked, teasing at first and then realizing she was serious. “Are you kidding me? For real Lex? You don’t even know who he is!”
“No,” I lied. “It’s not that.”
“It
is
that!” She flung her arms into the air. “Holy shit. You are hung up on an online guy that you’ve never met.”
“No,” I replied. “It’s not like that. I’m not saying it’s about Nick.”
“Then what is it about?”
“It’s about the way Nick and I are,” I answered. “We have a lot of common interests. We laugh and joke. It’s about the comfort.”
“So it is about him?”
“No,” I knew it wasn’t true. “But I do want that kind of communication and ease in a relationship. That wouldn’t happen with a man that makes my blood boil.”
“Can you imagine the sex though?” she laughed.
“Kendall!” I shouted. “There’s more to a relationship than sex.”
“Right,” she nodded. “Like secrecy and hiding?”
“You don’t understand,” I went to grab my things so I could head home. “You never will.”
“I understand that an extremely attractive, wealthy man with a steady job wants to buy you coffee and you don’t want to because that job means he has to fight for things you don’t like,” she looked at me. “And because a stranger on Facebook can make you laugh.”
“You make it all sound…”
“Insane? That’s because it is. Go to coffee with the guy. If you don’t hit it off, so be it,” she shrugged. “But damn it Lexi, don’t give up before you try.”
“Okay,” I agreed halfheartedly. “I’ll go. If he texts.”
Coincidentally my phone beeped as I said the words. I knew it wasn’t Facebook because the sound was different. I assumed it would be someone congratulating me on the victory as I checked the texts.
Coffee tomorrow? Your choice of venue?
It was Evan. I couldn’t believe he’d not only text, but text as soon as he did. I wasn’t even sure what to day.
I know a really good candy shop that has some of the best coffee in the area. Want to meet there about noon?
I decided that maybe Kendall was right. Perhaps it would be fair to give the guy a chance. Besides, I had told him that I would be willing to have coffee with him. Choosing to do so in my shop made it easier. I would feel more comfortable in my own space and if things didn’t go well I wouldn’t have an awkward departure.
Sounds great. I’ll see you then.
“Well, I guess I have a coffee date,” I announced, knowing that it would make Kendall very happy.
“Really?” Her excitement was evident. “When? Where? What are you going to wear?”
“Calm down,” I teased. “He’s coming here tomorrow about noon.”
“Here? You call that a date?”
“Why isn’t it? People have coffee dates here all the time,” I pointed out.
“People, yes. They don’t own it and work here all day,” she huffed, disappointed in my choices. “That’s not a date. That’s him coming to see you at work.”
“I feel more comfortable doing it this way,” it was the truth and I wasn’t going to hide it. “Baby steps Kendall.”
“I guess,” she conceded. “I suppose I’ll accept it for now.”
“Not like you really have a choice,” I reminded her. “I’m going to do what I’m going to do.”
“Yeah,” she conceded.
“Give me time,” I placed my hand on her shoulder. “I’ll get there.”
“Well try and get there with the hot rich guy, okay?” she laughed.
“I’ll try.” Both of us grabbed our things and made our way towards the back. I was more than ready to go home and relax for the night. It had been a long and mentally draining day.
I didn’t even have the energy to soak in a bath when I arrived home. Instead I grabbed a bite to eat, set my DVR to record Reckless and then curled up in the bed. I knew Nick would contact me, but I was too exhausted to chat with anyone. I had to rest and prepare myself to have coffee with the man that I’d been certain I’d never want to lay eyes on again.
*****
Chapter 9
“Very cute,” Kendall smiled as she walked in the door of the shop only an hour after I’d opened. “I approve.”
“Thanks,” I smiled, spinning a circle for her to check out the outfit that I’d chosen.
To me it seemed silly. I was wearing something special to sit in my own shop and have coffee with a man I’d barely tolerated for the last few months of my life. Why? So that this attractive, powerful and wealthy man might approve of me?
It didn’t make a lot of sense. Especially when I knew what he was like. A man who understood his appearance and its power over women, Evan Monroe had utilized it several times to try and get his way on the issue of the retail development. Why would I be interested in trying to impress him?
Yet there I stood, in the middle of my shop, twirling circles for my best friend and proud of the fact that she found my outfit acceptable. I felt as though I were a teenager preparing for a first date with my long time crush. Even though I was not a teenager and this man was nowhere near a crush. For some reason, I had a need to impress him by looking my best.
“I love that color,” Kendall beamed and I glanced at my reflection in the glass behind her.
I had opted for a bright blue top, sleeveless and just long enough to cover my midsection, with a short, pleated white skirt. I matched it with a pair of flat sandals, in the same shade of blue, and topped it all off with a bracelet, a couple of rings, earrings and necklace.
The blue of the top brought out the deep color of my eyes and brightened up my wavy blonde hair, that I’d opted to wear in a loose French braid, leaving a few tendrils around my face.
“I’m surprised you actually dressed up today,” she announced. “Given your aversion to liking the guy and all.”
“I’m not really dressed up,” I blushed. “Am I?”
“For you? Yeah,” she teased. “A skirt is definitely dressing up.”
“Glad you weren’t at my place this morning,” I rolled my eyes and fixed us both a cup of coffee.
The shop hadn’t had a single customer since I’d opened. It was typical to have days like that, but I really wanted the distraction to take my mind off of my upcoming visitor.
“Why’s that?” she asks, a twinkle in her eye.
“It might have taken me a while to decide what to wear,” I sat down at the table with her to enjoy our coffee. “I couldn’t make up my mind.”
“Wow,” she giggled as she took a sip. “So you actually acted like a girl going on a date?”
“It is not a date,” I argued. “Not at all. It’s coffee between two…”
“Well certainly not friends,” she laughed. “What would you guys be anyway?”
“I’m not sure,” I confessed. “People trying to get past something bad.”
Kendall began to ramble about how maybe it was fate that brought Evan and I into this battle over a shopping center. She said that perhaps it was our destiny to meet, and the battle over land was just the way it was meant to start.
I half listened to her rambling about Evan and I being soul mates that would make it through adversity only to find that we were perfect for each other. Sometimes I had to laugh at Kendall and her hopeless romantic side. Not that I didn’t hope for love and all that it entailed, but I didn’t have visions of some magical event unfolding that led me to the perfect man.
In fact, I was pretty sure that when and if I met anyone it would be some ordinary thing. Maybe he’d come into the shop or we’d pass each other at the grocery store. We’d chat briefly and find out that we liked the same restaurants or movies. He’d probably ask me out and I’d agree.
During the date we’d have a nice and pleasant conversation. There’d be nothing magical or electric, but we’d get along and that would lead to future dates. Eventually we’d get married and have kids and live a nice long life with common goals.
Kendall would think something like that sounded boring. She wanted the wild and crazy stories from the movies. Things that never really happened in the world, but women still hoped and dreamed for. I didn’t blame her. I just couldn’t agree with her.